The day started early. Very early. My kids made sure of that by jumping on the bed at 4:50 a.m. After breakfast, I finally got into physio mode.
I tested my new toy, the PowerDot by Therabody. It lacks some customization, but it does what it needs to do. I noticed that YouTube videos show more options than what I see in my app, which made me wonder whether there is a difference between iPhone and Android versions. I will need to spend some time learning it properly. For now, I used the beginner endurance setting. Eight seconds on, eight seconds off, with warm-up and cool-down phases. Overall, I liked it. Very easy to use and helpful in keeping sessions intense without overthinking.
I followed the program from Cleyber and even added a gym session focused on shoulders. After that, I joined my family at the park. Walking for a while caught up with me quickly, and after a few hours I decided to head back to the hotel. Fatigue is still very real.
Later, I had an appointment with a massage therapist. Since arriving, my knee has been more swollen than usual, likely a mix of flying and increased walking. He was not a physio, but I explained clearly that I wanted tension released in my quads and calves. It helped. The leg felt looser afterward, even though the swelling did not fully settle.
After the massage, I joined my family at Taipei 101, eating at the food court. Crowds again. A lot of walking, a lot of people, and the usual low-level stress that comes with it. I suppose this is something I will need to adapt to.
Back at the hotel, I went straight to ice and elevation. That helped. Once the kids fell asleep, I went out again to eat with my brother-in-law. About fifteen minutes of walking, a couple of drinks, and then back home. Despite everything, I slept better than previous nights.
Key Takeaways
- Early mornings do not mix well with jet lag and recovery
- PowerDot is useful but requires time to learn properly
- Consistency with the physio plan remains the anchor
- Walking and crowds still drive swelling up quickly
- Massage helps muscle tension even if swelling lingers
- Ice and elevation remain essential after long days